'Football 301' predicts NFC West win totals where the Seahawks and Rams are still elite, the 49ers are in flux and the Cardinals can rise up

The NFC West looks primed for another strong season with both 2025-26 conference finalists at the top, a proud franchise wrestling with transition, and a plucky, talent-rich rebuilding squad. On the latest episode of "Football 301," Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice and Matt Harmon laid out their win projections for each team and drilled deep into the roster spots and storylines that could swing the division this fall.

Below, we break down their projected win total picks for each squad:

Team

Tice's win total

Harmon's win total

O/U

Seahawks

12-5

<11.5

10.5

Rams

11-6

11-6

11.5

49ers

>10.5

>10.5

10.5

Cardinals

4-13

4-13

3.5

• Nate Tice: 12-5

• Matt Harmon: <11.5

The reigning Super Bowl champions retain almost their entire core, from their dominant defensive front to a dynamic, steadily improving offense. Both hosts see a strong chance for a repeat run atop the NFC West. Tice highlighted second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo's high ceiling, while Harmon feels the Seahawks have "just barely scratched the surface of Rashid Shahid's potential.

"There's enough there for them to sneak out the division title — then a pretty decent gap down to a Niners team that I'm a little concerned about," Harmon said.

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• Nate Tice: 11-6

• Matt Harmon: 11-6

The Rams just missed out on the Super Bowl last season but enter 2026 looking even more loaded, despite veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein's retirement. With head coach Sean McVay gearing up the offense for another championship run, both hosts view L.A. as one of the NFL's true elites.

"These are the two best teams, not just in the NFC, but in the NFL,"Tice said.

• Nate Tice: >10.5

• Matt Harmon: >10.5 (projected 8-9 win range)

After years of living on the razor's edge with a veteran core, Tice and Harmon see the check-engine light blinking in Santa Clara. The receiver room overhaul, longtime left tackle Trent Williams' mileage, and a now-questionable defense have them fearing the Niners' floor as much as their ceiling. Harmon pointed to the addition of veteran wide receiver Mike Evans as the possible fulcrum for the offense — if healthy, he's the perfect X in Kyle Shanahan's offense. But if age and injuries catch up, the receiving corps could crater.

"This team is a crossroads franchise," Tice said. "I feel worse about the 2026 49ers than I ever expected to."

• Nate Tice: 4-13

• Matt Harmon: 4-13

Yes, the over/under is low — but there's real reason for optimism. The Cardinals project as a league-worst offense by betting markets, but both hosts are "Cardinals curious." They see untapped synergy between a revamped skill group and new head coach and offensive play-caller Mike LaFleur. Does his McVay-inspired run game and passing designs put the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Trey McBride and Jerimiyah Love in situations where their talents actually flourish?

"There's too much talent for them to be a complete disaster," Tice said. "They'll sneak a few wins, maybe confound a young QB with schematic funk."

For more NFL insight, tune into "Football 301" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.